Plan · Festive season
Christmas and New Year in the Maldives
A Christmas on a coral island is a dream for many, and the festive weeks are among the most sought-after of the year. Here is what to expect, and how to plan.
Updated October 2026
The weather at Christmas
The Maldives Meteorological Service treats December as a transition month between the wet south-west monsoon and the dry north-east monsoon, which runs from January to March. Expect warm days around 25–32°C, with the chance of a passing shower, and sunshine rising to 10 to 11 hours a day from January.
Celebrating at a resort
The Maldives is a Muslim country, and the festive celebrations happen at resorts and licensed hotels. Resorts publish festive programmes each year: Four Seasons Kuda Huraa, for example, promotes Christmas and New Year celebrations, and Soneva plans the season across its islands. Ask your resort for its programme when you book.
New Year’s Eve usually means a gala dinner. Some resorts make it compulsory: Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, for instance, applies a compulsory New Year’s Eve supplement that includes its gala dinner. Check your resort’s festive terms before you pay.
Resorts by atoll Private islands
Flights and transfers
Seaplanes fly in daylight only, so if your international flight lands late you may need a night near the airport, at the Hulhulé Island Hotel or in Hulhumalé. Resorts within a speedboat ride of the airport, in North and South Malé atolls, avoid the problem altogether. Remember the IMUGA Traveller Declaration, due within 96 hours before you land.
Getting around North Malé Atoll
Malé and the local islands
Malé, Hulhumalé and the inhabited local islands are dry, and life goes on as normal over Christmas. If you stay on a local island, dress modestly and plan to celebrate with a resort day trip or a licensed hotel.
Questions and answers
Is Christmas a good time to visit the Maldives?
Yes, weather-wise: December is a transition month and the dry season starts in January. It is also one of the most popular times of year, so book early.
Do resorts charge extra for New Year’s Eve?
Some do. Conrad Rangali, for example, applies a compulsory New Year’s Eve supplement that includes the gala dinner. Check your resort’s festive terms.
Can I celebrate Christmas on a local island?
Local islands are Muslim communities and alcohol-free, so celebrations happen at resorts and licensed hotels.
Festive programmes and supplements change every year; check directly with your resort.